Tony Khan

When you have a setback, reset your clock.

When you have a setback, reset your clock.

AEW is a challenger brand competing in an industry where the industry leader historically has been the most adept company at crippling and smashing their competitors in the history of business. I found it very interesting what was happening with the media rights in the wrestling business.

AEW is a challenger brand competing in an industry where the industry leader historically has been the most adept company at crippling and smashing their competitors in the history of business. I found it very interesting what was happening with the media rights in the wrestling business.

The rights fees for the wrestling shows went up, and it was really only one company that was producing that product at the time, and that was WWE. It occurred to me that somebody could launch a new wrestling promotion. Now, AEW, in 2025, we're on over 150 countries now.

The rights fees for the wrestling shows went up, and it was really only one company that was producing that product at the time, and that was WWE. It occurred to me that somebody could launch a new wrestling promotion. Now, AEW, in 2025, we're on over 150 countries now.

Well, you have to build credibility and the best way to do that is.

Well, you have to build credibility and the best way to do that is.

Thank you for having me. It's very kind of you and I'm excited to be on the show and great to see you.

Thank you for having me. It's very kind of you and I'm excited to be on the show and great to see you.

Growing up as a kid, I was really obsessed with television and exciting television. And sports is, to me, the most exciting television. But I watched a lot of TV and I watched a lot of sports and I watched a lot of cartoons and action shows. So I watched G.I. Joe and the host of G.I. Joe, and he was a character in the show, was Sergeant Slaughter. And Sergeant Slaughter is also a wrestler.

Growing up as a kid, I was really obsessed with television and exciting television. And sports is, to me, the most exciting television. But I watched a lot of TV and I watched a lot of sports and I watched a lot of cartoons and action shows. So I watched G.I. Joe and the host of G.I. Joe, and he was a character in the show, was Sergeant Slaughter. And Sergeant Slaughter is also a wrestler.

So that helped me start to watch wrestling. I also watched The A-Team, which is a great show. I don't know if you watched The A-Team, but it was a fantastic show.

So that helped me start to watch wrestling. I also watched The A-Team, which is a great show. I don't know if you watched The A-Team, but it was a fantastic show.

Yeah, sure. First was a great show. That's not as much the stuff I was into, though. I did like some cartoons. I like more superheroes, the Justice League, Super Friends, but also a lot of action shows like The A-Team, which was a great show. And... Hulk Hogan was a character that appeared sometimes as Hulk Hogan on the A-Team.

Yeah, sure. First was a great show. That's not as much the stuff I was into, though. I did like some cartoons. I like more superheroes, the Justice League, Super Friends, but also a lot of action shows like The A-Team, which was a great show. And... Hulk Hogan was a character that appeared sometimes as Hulk Hogan on the A-Team.

And he was supposed to be a friend who was in Vietnam with Mr. T, which is pretty unbelievable in hindsight, given their ages and time with this show. But AEW was something that I dreamed of for many, many years. I grew up as a kid loving pro wrestling. I started watching TV as a kid. I had a TV in my room and my parents had a satellite dish in the backyard in the 80s.

And he was supposed to be a friend who was in Vietnam with Mr. T, which is pretty unbelievable in hindsight, given their ages and time with this show. But AEW was something that I dreamed of for many, many years. I grew up as a kid loving pro wrestling. I started watching TV as a kid. I had a TV in my room and my parents had a satellite dish in the backyard in the 80s.

No, my parents liked sports. I grew up in Champaign, Illinois, and the University of Illinois sports are a huge part of living in central Illinois. People follow Illinois football and basketball really closely. So I grew up watching a lot of football and basketball, especially the Illini, but also the NFL and the NBA and followed other sports too, baseball and soccer and other things.

No, my parents liked sports. I grew up in Champaign, Illinois, and the University of Illinois sports are a huge part of living in central Illinois. People follow Illinois football and basketball really closely. So I grew up watching a lot of football and basketball, especially the Illini, but also the NFL and the NBA and followed other sports too, baseball and soccer and other things.